The Australian government formally launched its Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute at an inaugural meeting of founder members in Canberra on 16 April. The institute’s primary function will be to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage technology globally and the sharing of information. It will be funded by $100m per year from the Australian government. The institute will provide international policy and management oversight with a goal of delivering commercial-scale CCS plants around the world. It has already received strong and widespread international support with 85 bodies, including 16 national governments and more than 40 major companies signing on as foundation members and collaborating participants.
One of these is Parsons Brinckerhoff, which is currently technical adviser to the UK government on its 300 MW full chain CCS demonstration project competition, which aims to prove the commercial viability of CCS, is supporting the development of a demonstration-scale CCS project in Australia and working with a number of independent power producers to progress emerging pre-combustion CCS technologies such as oxy-firing and coal gasification.
Another is GE Energy, which, under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Australian government, is becoming a founding member of the Institute.
PB Australia managing director Dr Jim Mantle said: ‘This institute is a global research hub leveraging ongoing CCS work happening in Australia and internationally. As a foundation member and international company, we are committed to supporting the GCCSI by providing specialist engineering and environmental expertise for the development of both pre and post-combustion carbon capture technologies. This includes transportation and logistics in respect of geo-sequestration.
“It is clear the institute is not just about theory. The aim is to have large-scale demonstration projects launched globally before 2010. Parsons Brinckerhoff is already working with clients to develop such projects. There is global commitment to CCS initiatives and we are proud to be part of this important work. We look forward to having an active role in the global institute.”
According to the International Energy Agency, world energy demand is expected to grow by 45% between 2006 and 2030. Despite the rising importance of renewable energy, fossil fuels, especially coal, are expected to remain major sources for the world’s energy in the coming decades. About 80% of Australia’s electricity currently comes from coal-fired power generation.
"Coal is critical to Australia—and the world’s—power supply, and it is a multi-billion dollar export that is important to Australia’s economy and the thousands of jobs it supports. The long-term viability of this industry depends on our ability to use our technology and know-how to reduce CO2 emissions in the process of generating electricity from coal,” said Steve Sargent, CEO, GE Australia & New Zealand.
GE Energy has an IGCC gasification process capable of deriving syngas from coal and other heavy fuels. It has had a demo plant, Cool Water (a claimant to being the world’s first) in operation in Southern California since 1984 and a commercial plant at the 250MW TECO Polk I station in Florida for more than 12 years. More than 33 GE licensed industrial gasification facilities around the globe currently separate CO2. Duke Energy is currently in the early stages of building a 632MW IGCC project at Edwardsport, Indiana, using GE’s technology and due to come on line in 2012.
“GE Energy heartily supports and plans to work to achieve the goals of the CCS Institute,” said Steve Bolze, vice president, Power & Water, GE Energy. “We recognise the urgent need for a global portfolio of commercial-scale CCS technology projects that can utilise coal ... to help meet both the growing demand for energy and increasing environmental regulations.”
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